Polity Notes for UPSC Exam 2023

Polity Notes for UPSC Exam: If you are preparing for the UPSC civil services exam, you would be aware that political science is an unavoidable and most looked-upon section of the UPSC syllabus – both for the IAS UPSC prelims and the mains. It is also available as an optional subject in the UPSC main exams. This article discusses the most important topics of political science for UPSC Prelims, UPSC Mains, and General Studies Paper 2. GeeksforGeeks has brought Important Topics of Political Science to you which can help you get your political science queries solved.

UPSC Notes For UPSC Exam:

• Importance History Notes for UPSC 2023
• Importance Geography Notes for UPSC 2023
• Importance Ethics Notes for UPSC 2023
• Importance Economics Notes for UPSC 2023
• Importance Science & Technology Notes for UPSC 2023
• Previous Year’s Papers of UPSC

Most Important Polity Notes for UPSC Exam

It is important that you have a strong interest in the topic before selecting it as an option. If you are interested in political science, read the UPSC political science topic-wise important questions thoroughly.

• Election Deposit Rule in India
• Types of Jurisdiction of Supreme Court
• Fundamental Rights of Foreigners in India
• An Analysis of 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act (CAA 1976)
• Solicitor General of India
• State Finance Commission
• Election of the Vice President
• Key Challenges and Strategies for Municipal Governance
• Cabinet Secretary of India
• Ordinance Making Power of President and Governor
• Indian Constitution Twenty Fourth Amendment Act, 1971
• The Competition Commission Of India ( CCI)
• Eighty-Sixth Amendment Act 2002
• The 92nd Amendment of the Indian Constitution
• Power of Election Commission of India
• Right To Speedy Trial
• Ninety-Seventh Amendment Act 2011 In Indian Constitution
• Fundamental Rights And Writs Of India
• Functions of Election Commission
• Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India
• Indian Preamble and its Objectives
• Sixty-First Amendment Act, 1989 in Indian Constitution
• The Inter-State Council
• Which Fundamental Rights Can Never Be Suspended During National Emergency?
• Can an Indian citizen be punished for violation of Fundamental Duties?
• When was the Planning Commission set up?
• Attorney General Of India
• Economically Weaker Section (EWS) Reservation
• At present how many Fundamental Duties are in the Constitution of India?
• Why Was Right to Property Removed From Fundamental Rights?
• What is the 88th Amendment Act 2003 of the Indian Constitution?
• Why Fundamental Duties Are Not Enforceable By Law?
• Role and Functions of NGOs
• Public Interest Litigation
• The Government of India Act 1935
• Special Provisions for Some States
• Electoral Reforms in India
• The Constituent Assembly of India: Features & its Committees
• Urban Local Bodies in India
• Role of Judicial Activism in Fundamental Rights
• Causes for Widespread Poverty in India
• Types of Government’s Funds
• The Office of Speaker of Lok Sabha
• Amendment in Indian Constitution: Procedure, Modes, and Types
• Cultural & Educational Rights – Articles 29 and 30
• Major Sources of Indian Constitution
• Fund Mismanagement in NGOs
• Directive Principles of State Policy
• Philosophy of the Indian Constitution
• E-Governance: Challenges and Advantages
• Challenges in Indian Education System
• Freedom of Religion Guaranteed Under Indian Constitution
• Public Accounts Committee
• Role of Civil Services in a Democracy
• Salient Features of the Representation of People’s Act, 1951
• Relationship Between Parliament and Judiciary
• National Commission For Scheduled Tribes
• National Commission For Scheduled Castes
• National Commission For Backward Classes
• National Commission For Women
• Financial Emergency and its Consequences
• Right to Information Act, 2005
• Cut Motions – Policy Cut, Economy Cut and Token Cut
• Major Failures of National Planning Commission
• Advantages of Multi-Party System in Democracy
• In Indian Democracy, the Executive are More Responsible and Accountable
• Law Making Procedure in Parliament
• Importance and Functions of the Administrative Machinery
• Difference Between Parliamentary and Presidential Form of Government
• Powers and Functions of Lokpal and Lokayukta
• Caste System is Assuming New Identities and Associational Forms
• Democracy Produce an Accountable, Responsive and Legitimate Government
• Discretionary Powers of President of India
• Role of Quasi-Judicial Bodies
• Powers and Functions of Election Commission of India
• Types of Parliamentary Committees and Their Roles
• Uniqueness of Indian Society in Sustaining its Culture
• Main Objective of Distribution of Powers Between Centre and States
• Cooperation, Competition, and Confrontation Have Shaped the Nature of Federation in India
• Importance of Local Government Bodies
• Central States Relation: Power Sharing System in India
• The Importance of Parliament
• Democracy is a Government of People, For the People and By the People
• Role of Regional Parties in India
• Article-19 and Social Media Regulation
• The Importance of Democracy
• Comptroller and Auditor General of India (Article 148-151)
• Difference Between Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
• Roles and Functions of Local Government
• Types of Social Movements
• How Do Social Division Affect Politics in India?
• Types of Writs in Indian Constitution
• Right to Freedom of Religion in India (Articles 25-28)
• Fundamental Rights of India (Articles 12-35)
• Difference Between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy
• Fundamental Rights Protected By Indian Constitution
• Key Features of Federalism
• Right Against Exploitation
• Why Do We Need Rights in a Democracy?
• Evolution of Concept of Basic Structure
• What is Rule of Law?
• Role of Pressure Groups and its Influence on Politics
• Article 14 – Right to Equality
• Judicial System: Challenges and Reform
• Taxes Collected by Panchayat
• Nyaya Panchayat
• Judicial Review in India
• Article 169
• The Indian Constitution Twenty-First Amendment Act, 1967
• Environment Protection under Fundamental Duties
• Difference Between Ordinary Bill and Money Bill
• PESA (Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act 1996
• Veto Powers of the Governor and President Regarding a Money Bill
• Election Deposit Rule in India
• The Administrative Tribunals
• National Service Scheme
• 56th Constitutional Amendment Act: Goa Full-Fledged State
• Eleventh Amendment Act, 1961 of the Constitution of India
• Which Committee Advocated the Fundamental Duties in the Indian Constitution?
• Role of Caste in Indian Politics
• Anti-Federalist vs Federalist
• Communism vs Fascism
• Role Of The Opposition Party In Democracy

Polity Syllabus for UPSC Preliminary Examination

The UPSC examination syllabus for Polity Prelims is given here:

• Political system
• Indian polity and governance- Constitution
• Rights Issues, Panchayati Raj Public Policy, etc. 

Below you can find the comprehensive topics of the UPSC Preliminary Polity Syllabus:

Topics	Polity Syllabus
Preamble	Terms in the Preamble 42nd Amendment Swaran Singh committee
Constitution of India	Historical Background Drafting committee and making scheme of the Constitution Influence of other constitutions Its salient features Union and its Territory (Basic idea about Article 1-4, Federal nature, State reorganization, and different Commissions, Recent issues)
Citizenship	Basic idea about Article 5-11 PIO, NRI, OCI, FRsFDs Citizenship Amendment Act 2016 Schemes, new policies, and recent changes in voting.
Fundamental Rights	Basic idea about Article 12-35 44th amendment act Different types of Writs Enforcement and Exceptional cases with regard to FR Recent issues related to FR
Fundamental Duties	Article 51A Difference between FR and FD Significance and Criticism Enforcement of FD Recent issues with, FD
Directive Principles of State Policy	Basic idea about Article 36-51 and Article 368 Sources and key features of DPSP Classification of DPSP Comparison or conflicts between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles Keshavananda Bharati, Golaknath Case, Minerva Mills, Maneka Gandhi case. Important Amendments- 42nd Amendment, 44th Amendment, and 97th amendment
Union	Basic idea about Article 52-73 Qualification and Election of President and vice-president Function and Powers of the president– (Executive, Legislative, Financial, Judicial, Diplomatic, Military and Emergency Powers) Prime minister and council of minister Resignation and impeachment of the president Role and responsibilities of Prime minister, Cabinet ministers, Council of Ministers. Resignation and Removal of vice president Powers and Functions of the law-making STsCouncil of ministers Attorney general
Parliament	Basic idea about Articles related to Role and functions of the Parliament Motions, Sessions, Parliamentary procedure – Zero Hour, Summoning, Prorogation, and Joint sitting. Parliamentary proceedings like Adjournment Motion, Question Hour etc. Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Special powers of Rajya Sabha Anti-defection law and 10th schedule Parliamentary Privileges Bill and law making procedure Budget, funds and its summary Parliamentary Committees
Judiciary	Basic idea about the judiciary. Powers of High Court and Supreme court Qualification and appointment Removal procedure Recent controversy, verdicts, and constitutional provisions.
State Government- State Executive	Governor– appointment, and special powers. Executive, Legislative, Financial, Judicial powers and discretionary powers of the governor 7th constitutional amendment Chief minister and the council of ministers Power of chief minister
State Legislature	State legislature compared to the Parliament with regard to powers, composition, and functions. Bicameral legislature Creation and abolition of the Legislative councils
Administration of Special Areas	Basic idea about 5thSchedule and 6th Schedule Recent problems related to Administration of Special Areas Special provision for states Article 371
Emergency Provisions	National Emergency- Article 352 President’s rule or State emergency- Article 356 Financial Emergency-Article 360 44th amendment act Effects and implications of emergency Role of President in emergency time The State of FR, Lok sabha, and Rajya sabha Revoking Emergency
Panchayati raj and municipalities	Elections, auditing, powers and authority of panchayats 3 tier structure 73rd Amendment Act and 74th Amendment Act Relation with FR and DPSP Schemes introduced Metropolitan planning committee and urban development Reservation
Constitutional Bodies	Election Commission UPSC SPSC JPSC Finance Commission National Commission for SCs and STs, Composition, Powers and functions, Removal of the Constitutional bodies
Current Affairs	Recent issues related to the above-mentioned categories Important schemes, programs, missions, laws, and policies launched by the government. Recent Government Bills and Governance- actions

Tips for UPSC Exam On Polity Subject:

The Constitution is the bible of civil service aspirants. The ways to understand the Indian Polity UPSC Notes are stated below:

• Read the articles carefully. This will assist you in developing a fundamental grasp of each Article. This approach needs repeated reading. The more you read, the more you’ll remember.
• Prepare a brief message with highlighted keywords that is pragmatically related to a current topic. The goal should be to extract the essence of the required knowledge according to the UPSC curriculum.
• Refer to the UPSC previous year’s papers and begin tackling question papers.
• Go for NCERT books (Class XI – Political Science: Indian Constitution at Work (New), Class XII – Political Science I: Contemporary World Politics (New), Class XII – Political Science II: Politics in India since Independence(New)).
• Read Newspapers like The Hindu, Indian Express, and Kurukshetra Magazines.